Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to new evidence suggesting worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, particularly his lower back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, loss of feeling of the right hand disability, loss of feeling of the left hand disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral knees, bilateral ankles, and bilateral hands due to insufficient medical opinions in the record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal in its entirety.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is also being remanded for an examination to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for aplastic anemia and ventral hernia have been withdrawn. The appeal to reopen his claim of arthritis of the joints has been granted, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a right knee injury. These issues are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability has been granted.,A separate rating of 30 percent for left knee instability is granted, but the issue of a higher rating remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his service-connected painful scar, right knee was denied because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed within one year after receiving the July 2017 rating decision.

The Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and residuals of right knee cellulitis due to VA medical treatment during the course of a right total knee replacement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his bilateral knee conditions, finding that there can be no valid freestanding claim for an earlier effective date after a final RO decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, which may be related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for bilateral knee disabilities prior to November 24, 2014, finding that the criteria for such a rating were not met before this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his right foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions during flare-ups.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back, shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle, and groin conditions. The case is being remanded to schedule VA examinations and obtain pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, instability and subluxation, and right knee disability have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during a qualifying period of active service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome and shin splints were granted a separate 10 percent rating for each lower extremity from June 20, 2015 to January 17, 2022. After this period, the ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee conditions, as well as for right hip arthritis. The Veteran is also being asked to provide any relevant private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The evidence shows that the Veteran had knee issues during service, which have been diagnosed as current disabilities.